UFC Norfolk results: Grant Dawson locks on rear-naked choke to finish Darrick Minner

Grant Dawson remains undefeated in his UFC career with his second straight finish by rear-naked choke.

The former Dana White Contender Series competitor just recently got cleared to return to action following a long saga with USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission over a lingering issue with his drug test results. Dawson made the most of his return to action as he put away Darrick Minner at 1:38 into the second round.

There was no feeling out process in the opening bout on the main card with Minner making numerous attempts to snatch one of his signature guillotine chokes. He grabbed onto Dawson’s neck several times throughout the first round trying to pull off the submission but he just couldn’t quite get the finish.

Despite getting wrapped up in the choke on repeated occasions, Dawson constantly found a way to slip free and then began raining down shots on Minner, who got stuck on the bottom.

“I’ve been there a thousand times, I knew what to do,” Dawson said about the guillotine choke attempts.

The offensive flurry then opened up an opportunity for Dawson to take Minner’s back where he looked to secure the rear naked choke.

Once he had his hands locked and the body triangle secured, Dawson just had to tighten his grip and the grimace on Minner’s face soon gave way to a tap to signify the end of the fight.

Dawson is now 3-0 in his UFC career, although he came into this fight 3.5 pounds over the featherweight limit. Still after missing so much time due to his ongoing situation with USADA and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Dawson seemed happy to just set foot back in the Octagon and resume an active schedule in 2020.